Start Driving in Dalian, Liaoning
Dalian, a breezy seaside metropolis in China’s Liaoning province on the Liaodong Peninsula jutting into the Yellow Sea, dazzles as a former German-Russian concession turned “Northern Pearl” with 7 million residents relishing mild oceanic summers for beach barbecues and frosty Siberian winters blanketing Xinghai Square in ice rinks since its 1898 port founding. Must-sees sparkle at vast Xinghai Beach’s golden sands Ferris wheel and fireworks festivals, Russian Street’s onion-domed architecture hiding craft beer bars, Bangchui Island’s lighthouse trails and seafood bonfires, Laohutan Ocean Park’s beluga shows and polar bears, Discoveryland Theme Park’s rollercoasters over sea cliffs, and Anbo Forest Park’s hot springs amid red pine groves. Culture surges through riotous Dalian International Beer Festival’s German brass bands oyster towers and foam fights, vibrant Russian Easter egg hunts blending Slavic icons with dragon dances, resilient fishing clan tales in sea shanty pubs, plus K-pop cover dance battles reflecting youthful Sino-Korean fusion. Cuisine crashes like Yellow Sea waves with succulent grilled squid skewers slathered in cumin chili from beach stalls, fiery hǎixiān miàn seafood noodles swimming clams mussels and razor clams, creamy xī hǎi mán rou crab roe dumplings, tangy pickled jellyfish with sesame oil, sweet dà lián bǐng sesame pancakes stuffed with pork belly, and frothy Tsingtao drafts or plum wine evoking salty harbor gales and clifftop clam bakes.